International Cell Phone

[Rod Hagen]

Hi. Stupid question. Is there any service that allows you to use your phone both in the US and in other countries WITHOUT changing the simms card every fricking time you enter another country? A phone I can use in the states, then use in Australia, then use in Turkey, then use in France and NOT have to swap out the fucking simms chip each time? Thanks.

 

RH

[bluenix]

T-Mobile provides you access to the world's largest international wireless community with coverage in more than 100 countries. We make it easy to stay in touch. Just take your phone with you. You can be reached at the same number you use at home.

 

http://www.t-mobile.com/international/default.asp?nav=hm

 

I'm not a customer, so I can't comment on the quality of the service.

[Rick Munroe]

>swap out the fucking simms chip

 

I have no idea what this means but I like the way it sounds. }(

[Rod Hagen]

>http://www.t-mobile.com/international/default.asp?nav=hm

>

>I'm not a customer, so I can't comment on the quality of the

>service.

 

I am their customer. And while I like their service well-enough domestically, though I wish it worked better in more remote areas such as Yosemite and Kings Canyon like AT&T does, internationally you have to purchase a new Simms card every time you enter another country. That's unacceptable. It's not as if a European, or South East Asian, Man needs different Simms chips for travelling between Germany, France, and Spain, or Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore, respectively (I'm less certain about that last string of examples, but you get my drift).

 

I want one phone for the whole world and I don't want a drawer-full of $22.95 simms chips waiting back at home.

 

Anyone?

 

-Hagen

[LovesYng]

As a T-Mobile customer I have used my phone in London for 99 cents per min using the number I have now, the only thing was I had to buy a new phone before traveling so I could in both the US and London.

 

Starting sometime in Nov. with T-Mobile if your in a area with no service you will be able to roam to pick up ATT or a local carrier in that area for no roaming charges, about "FUCKING TIME"

 

When in doubt I whip it out:+

[bluenix]

Jeebus, your irritability reminds me of my dad. How old are you again?

 

http://www.iridium.com/

 

You won't like the price, though.

[Rod Hagen]

>http://www.iridium.com/

>

>You won't like the price, though.

 

I've always wanted a Sattelite phone for mtbiking, climing, skiing, etc (and I like the fantasy of being able to use it on a sailing trip ANYWHERE, though I don't sail much), but my understanding is that you must be outside in order to use a Sat. Phone. Also the attena, though it's shrunk in recent years, is still too big.

 

International Cell PHone advice anyone?

 

 

 

-Hagen

[jakobsen]

First of all, you need a tri-band phone and a GSM services through T-Mobile. With one SIM card, GSM phone works in most countries (even on top of Tatras Mountain in Slovakia) that have GSM services; it does not work however in Japan and Korea because they're on CDMA, the U.S. standard. Argentina and Brazil recently offered GSM services and GSM phones work only in major cities (but who the hell uses a phone when you are in the Patagonia or Jericoacoara?).

 

Here's the deal. When someone from the U.S. calls you, caller pays local call but you pay long-distance plus roaming charges; similarly, even though you have a U.S. number, when you are abroad and call the U.S., you pay long-distance plus roaming charges.

 

When you are in a foreign country calling a local number in that country, you pay local charges only. But when someone from that country calls you (even if you are in the same country), both of you pay long-distance charges.

[Rod Hagen]

>First of all, you need a tri-band phone and a GSM services

>through T-Mobile. With one SIM card, GSM phone works in

 

Thanks. I have a 3-band/GSM with SIM card. However, T-Mobile tells me that I have to swap out the SIM card, then unlock the new SIM, in each other countries. Is that the case?

[Guest DickHo]

I have a T-Mobile tri-band phone. I only own one SIMM card. When I arrive in a country, the phone automatically searchs for a network and connects to the T-Mobile local supplier--like Vodaphone in the UK. No changing of cards or even resetting it.

 

Caution, T-Mobile service internationally is as spotty as US service. For example, in Berlin, the phone worked mostly in the old West Berlin but very spottily in the old East Berlin. However, the same is true of NYC. My phone works on one side of my office building but not on the other side.

[MscleLovr]

Jakobsen gave very good advice!

 

All I can add is that I have used a tri-band phone for over a year, and I travel around the world. Truly it works everywhere - except Japan etc - without swapping SIM cards

 

I use Vodafone, having been with T-mobile earlier, as I find it cheaper

 

The only points I would raise is that

1. you can keep your costs low by sending text messages mainly and making (and receiving) fewer calls, and

2. sometimes you have to put the network settings to Manual (as occasionally the Automatic setting does not work well when you are in a new country) - but all this means is that you hit the Select button on your phone 3 more times and it takes maybe 30seconds to find the choice of network for you

[JamesK840]

>Caution, T-Mobile service internationally is as spotty as US

>service. For example, in Berlin, the phone worked mostly in

>the old West Berlin but very spottily in the old East Berlin.

>However, the same is true of NYC. My phone works on one side

>of my office building but not on the other side.

 

One side of your office building used to be communist? :+

 

I've got an AT&T GSM. It works surprisingly well for me in LA area so far, haven't been oversees with it. It was strange, the people at the (AT&T Mobile) store were not enthusiastic about GSM, they thought I'd be much happier (or was it they'd get a bigger commission) on the old system. Also, some of AT&T's new phones, while GSM, don't work overseas supposedly. I made sure to get one that did. I've heard it can be expensive to use over there, but I'm not paying the bill...

 

Only problem is that the phone sometimes looses contact with the SIM card. Even worse it doesn't do a good job of indicating that it's now just a worthless chunk of plastic. Eventually I notice that the reception bar is at zero (which is pretty rare otherwise) and reseat the card, then it's fine. Putting some paper behind it helped a little, I think it's a problem peculiar to this particular phone.

[Guest nybos]

Just wanted to provide more information. There are three US cellular carriers that provide service over GSM - T-Mobile which has been GSM since it was formed via the various mergers, AT&T and Cingular who are converting their networks from TDMA to GSM. In the US all three utilize a GSM operating at 1900 mhz (with 850 mhz rolling out for additional capacity) while most of the rest of the world is 900/1800. All three also sell two types of phones one to be used domestically and a tri-mode that works on the 900/1800 and 1900 bands.

 

As long as you have a tri mode phone and your provider has granted you access for international roaming, you are all set. The best combination to provide "universal" coverage is with AT&T and using the Siemens S46 which operates on their GSM network and TDMA network in the US and roams internationally on both. I do not see it on their web site but they are still advertising it in their ads.

 

To see where AT&T roams internationally check out the link - http://www.attwireless.com/business/plans/international/worldconnect_ng.jhtml. I have used the phone all over Europe with no problems at all.

 

Good luck.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Particular or Peculiar?

 

The new cellular service I just got a few months ago is GSM service through AT&T. One excellent feature about the phone is that it works well in most urban centers - however, it does not work in all of them. My particular phone will not work in Portland, Oregon, for example, where my best friend and his partner live (my service excludes the possibility of roaming). It worked fine in Boston but did not work in Provincetown, except for two spots right by the ferry wharf and in front of the Post Office on Commercial Street.

 

Unlike James, I do not find that the service works well everywhere in Los Angeles. There are some places in the Hollywood Hills that it does not work, I have poor reception in my current (new) ground level apartment unit and I have poor (or NO) reception, for example, in certain concrete structures, like the interior of Gold's Gym in Hollywood.

 

On the other hand, ALL of the cellular companies will be moving to GSM service, particular as they attempt to sell services such as e-mail, web browsing, etc., in attempt to maintain the margins and sales growth of the last 5 - 10 years.

 

As for your particular question, Rod, I cannot offer you better advise than you have received here, but I think you should simply accept that sometimes you will not be able to be as instantly in touch with everyone when you travel outside the U.S. as you might be used to in Southern California. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

[Guest nybos]

RE: Particular or Peculiar?

 

The benefit of the Siemens phone is that it is TDMA which works on the old AT&T Network, and 900/1900 GSM which will work on the new AT&T GSM network as well as overseas. As of now, Verizon and Sprint have no intention of migrating to GSM. They operate on CDMA. Nextel Operates on iDen a variance on TDMA) does have one phone - the Morotorola i2000 which is also GSM 900/1800 to roam overseas.

 

But for the broadest coverage the Siemens S46 works in the most places in the world.

 

As far as satellite phones are concerned the ones sold in the US access satellite and TDMA so you can use them indoors. Overseas they are useless indoors as you need to access a satellite signal.

[Rod Hagen]

RE: Particular or Peculiar?

 

Thanks everybody. It appears that good folks at TMobile assumed, rightly, that I was cheap. Their ADVISE was that I swap out the chip in other nations, as that is the LESS expensive option. Rather I do so or not, my phone will work. Yipee!